New Review on Knocks From The Underground – Buyu Ambroise

Jazz is all about the artist tricking the music into doing something it could never do within its own limited arithmetic; in jazz the mathematics of music are thrown out and simultaneously memorialized. Brooklyn saxophonist Buyu Ambroise accomplishes this musical double think as he brings the Afro-Beat and Caribbean influences from his Haitian origin, mixes [...]

New Review on Knocks From The Underground – Midsommar by U.S. Royalty

To be catchy, or not to be catchy? How come some folks get praised for being hybrid-uber-pop and some get called plastic-phony-cookie-cutter-rock? Where is the tipping point on this scale of double standards? Inquiring bands want to know. Pop driven and rock refined, the music of DC’s U.S. Royalty will definitely get some feet tapping. [...]

New Review on Kevchino.com – Two Dancers by Wild Beasts

Aside from the inevitable alt-country apocalypse on the pop and indie horizons, this year in music, America has seen a mini British invasion, with new quality releases from The Clientele, The xx, Fuck Buttons, and more. But if you missed Two Dancers you may want to put away a few pounds (or Euros I guess; [...]

Sharon Van Etten, Natureboy at Union Pool Nov. 7, $10 Advance Tickets

Sharon Van Etten is one of my favorite Brooklyn talents, and Union Pool is a pretty terrific venue. I did a brief review of Sharon on Knocks From The Underground back in March. And here’s a review of Natureboy’s last album (I didn’t write it). Come out in support of indie music! Here’s the low-down [...]

New Review on Kevchino.com – Everything Is New by Jack Peñate

Besides re-posting my reviews on my blog to show a few friends what I’m up to out in Internet Land, I also get the opportunity to take a second look at my original opinions. Jack Peñate’s Everything Is New still isn’t on my great list, but I have let a couple more tracks slip into [...]

New Review on Knocks From The Underground – Johari Window by Carlon

Meet Carlon, the Jersey band that’s about to wow the indie world with their cold, grunge country groove. Next year, we’re going to have to stop acting so surprised about the multitudinous directions indie rock has taken, because it will all be old news and we won’t flinch when our Genius Playlists follow Weezer with [...]

Censor This S***: Addeboy vs Cliff – Beep My Beep

Since I stumbled upon this sweeping self-censored single, I can’t get enough of it. And I can’t get enough of the discussion it opens so tactfully. Why is it so important for the censors to stop us from hearing what’s behind those beeps? I can make this song as dirty or as clean as I [...]

New Review on Kevchino.com – Watch Me Fall by Jay Reatard

Here’s a darkly fun album in the midst of a mess of art-rock and alt-country that proves punk still has a lot to say. Jay Reatard grew up making grunge rock, and Watch Me Fall is the culmination. It came out last month, and it’s been stuck in my head ever since. Imagine Mindless Self-Indulgence [...]

New Review on Knocks From The Underground – Ill Bill

Want some wholesome fun for the whole family? La Coka Nostra is here with Ill Bill and the gang to alienate your already estranged children and give that psycho next door the extra motivation he needs to finally “do something” about his yuppie, brainwashed neighbors. Gat-strapped rap is back, and it’s whiter than ever. Remember [...]

New Review on Knocks From The Underground – New Denver by Motel Motel

Twenty years ago, nobody could have foreseen the rise of alternative country-western grunge rock, emo-pick-up-truck-style garage bands. Speculative science fiction would have us believe that all music past 2001 could only be made up of beeps and boops, thus perpetuating the machine uprising of 2010. Sorry James Cameron, but the Great Recession is downsizing Skynet [...]